An eventful inauguration. The organizers of the Agricultural Show decided, Saturday February 24, to “delay the opening of the 60th edition”, due to the clashes which broke out within the grounds of the Porte de Versailles exhibition center after the arrival of hundreds of demonstrators before the official opening. Finally, around 10:30 a.m., access was opened to the public. The pavilion occupied by the demonstrators remained closed, before being able to open to the public. At the same time, the President of the Republic debated at length with union representatives. He then promised to inaugurate the salon, “calm or not calm”. Finally, the head of state cut the tricolor ribbon at 1:30 p.m., despite the whistles and boos. Follow our live stream.
An arrival under the lazzis. Emmanuel Macron was able to enter the Porte de Versailles exhibition center around 8 a.m., where dozens of demonstrators forced a gate to enter the premises before opening time. “Macron resignation” And “give it back”, shouted demonstrators in the aisles. The Head of State then had breakfast with union representatives, including the president of the FNSEA, behind closed doors.
An impromptu speech. After these clashes, the President of the Republic called that the Agricultural Show “is going well, calmly”. During a speech lasting around thirty minutes, Emmanuel Macron announced the holding of a meeting at the Elysée “in three weeks”. “We must launch a European Egalim, because today we have large groups using Europe to circumvent French law”he added.
A crisis that has lasted for several weeks. The crisis had been brewing since the fall and exploded from January 18, leading to two weeks of highway blockades, finally lifted on February 1. Pesticides, standards, administrative simplifications, aid to breeders or wine growers, strengthening of controls against fraud on the French origin of products… Prime Minister Gabriel Attal made several bursts of announcements, without managing to completely calm the anger .